Housing Exemption Policy

Sorority & Fraternity Housing Exemption Process

Important Policies

1. Students wishing to apply for exemption to reside in their recognized sorority or fraternity house should not sign a lease with their respective facility. Should they sign a lease, an addendum must be included that allows the student to be released from any financial responsibility should they not be approved for an off-campus exemption. Ohio University Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life WILL NOT make any exceptions for those students who sign leases prior to receiving final confirmation from Ohio University that their off-campus exemption has been approved. 

2. To qualify for an exemption, individual students must meet the following criteria:

a. Must be a member of their respective organization AND on the organization’s current roster by the time applications are due. 

b. Complete the Sorority and Fraternity Life Housing Exemption Request Form prior to August 1, 2024. 

c. Have an overall cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or higher based on Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semester grades only. Summer classes will not be included. 

d. Be in good standing with the University. No student may have any unresolved conduct or probation prior to August 1, 2024. 

e. Reside on campus for at least 1 year (Fall and Spring semesters) prior to the Fall semester in which they are requesting to reside in their recognized fraternity or sorority house. 

f. Have attended ONE in-person or virtual housing information session AND completed the post-assessment module. 

3. To qualify for a mid-year exemption, individual students must meet all of the above criteria AND serve in a chapter executive board role of either Chapter President, House Manager, or Risk Manager. Students who are not entering one of these roles will not be eligible for a mid-year exemption to reside in the Greek Recognized Facility for the Spring semester. All housing and dining contracts are binding for the full academic year.

4. In order for Greek Recognized Facilities to qualify for second-year students to be eligible to apply for exemptions, individual chapters must also meet specific criteria, which include: 

a. Proof of yearly compliance with city fire code and environmental health and safety regulations. 

b. Updated certificate of insurance on file with the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life.

c. An employed live-in house director that is at least two years removed from the host chapter, unless employed by Ohio University. 

d. In good standing with Ohio University and their respective governing council. No chapter may have any unresolved conduct probation prior to August 1, 2024.* Furthermore chapters will need to be recognized in good standing by their governing council. 

e. Participation in and completion of Pawprint Accreditation Program that achieves a Satisfactory score or higher. 

f. Submission of signed lease agreements. 

* The Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life, in partnership with Housing & Residence Life has determined that this will not apply to groups on a conduct status as of November 20, 2023. Any organization that is placed on a conduct status after this point will not meet the criteria for exemption approval. Additionally, if those groups on a current conduct status has additional sanctions extending their probation, they will no longer meet the criteria for exemption approval. 

Application Process 

Step 1: Submit Your Housing & Dining Contract and Deposit

Students required to reside on campus at Ohio University must complete a “Second Year Student Contract” and submit a $200 housing deposit by logging in to Housing Self Service and clicking on the “Contracts and Applications’ tab. This contract opened on December 1, 2023.

The deadline application for the room selection process is February 23, 2024 and must be met to be eligible for Fall course registration. Students wishing to be exempt to reside in a recognized fraternity or sorority house must complete the Housing and Dining Contract.

Step 2: Complete the Online Housing Exemption Application

Beginning December 1, 2023 students interested in residing in a recognized sorority or fraternity house should visit the Housing Self-Service and complete the “Sorority & Fraternity Life Housing Exemption Request Form."

Students who complete this exemption request prior to May 1 and who do not select and/or are not pulled into a room during room selection, will receive their $200 housing deposit back upon approval of the exemption. Students who complete the form after May 1, who select and/or who are pulled into a room during room selection, will not be eligible for a deposit refund.

Step 3: Review of Applications

The review process for exemption requests will begin May 1, 2024 and end August 1, 2024. Requests received after August 1, 2024 will not be considered.

Housing and Residence Life will first review applications to see if individuals have met their 1-year residency requirement. If approved, applications will then be reviewed by the Sorority & Fraternity Housing Review Committee comprised of faculty and staff.

Recommendations for approval will then be sent to Housing and Residence Life and students will be removed from their housing and dining contract immediately.  

Denials will be communicated to individuals Ohio Student email address via the committee.  

Individual chapters will receive an updated list of approvals the 1^st of every month. It is the expectation of the Sorority & Fraternity Housing Review Committee that all individuals denied inform their respective chapter of their status. 

Should a student wish to cancel their exemption application, they must email housing@ohio.edu prior to that recommendation of approval being sent. 

Step 4: Appeal Process

Those individuals or organizations who received an initial denial due to academics or conduct status may submit an appeal to the Sorority & Fraternity Housing Review Committee. 

Appeal applications will be made available May 1st and will be received until July 1st. Final notifications will be sent out the week of August 1st, 2024. Appeals should be submitted to Imants Jaunajs at jaunraj@ohio.edu.

Questions regarding this process should be sent to OU Greek Life at OUGreekLife@ohio.edu